The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-01
A STRANGE STORY OF THE WAR.
A Soldiers Parting from His Family,
and the Little Picture Which He
Bore Away With Hin--Ais
Daughters Strange AdVen-
ture at the North, Etc.
.Specia1 to atlanta Consultation.

took place IN New YORK 1e" weeks
since, has brought to light very re-
markable incident. Miss Rhett
Myron, the principal figure in the
drama, is personal friend of your
correspondent, and from her the fol-
lowing facts have been obtained,
with permission for their publication.
Hayne Myron, the father of this
young lady, was planter in South
Carolina. His home was typical
southern home, spacious and hospita-
BILE, surrounded by broad acres, and
faithful slaves. His family consisted
of his wife and Rhett, who was then
little child, and the idol of her
father, as well as the pet of the plan.
tation. At the breaking out of the
war, in the fall of 1861 Hayne My.
ron joined a volunteer South Caro-.
lima regiment.
Before leaving home he had pic
ture of his little girl painted in mini
ature and encased it in a locket that
he placed next to his heart, saying.
my darling, this will be papa's shield
when be is in danger, and his sun.
shine when he rests" and with eyes
filled with tears, he smothered the
f.:e and sunny head Of his child
with farewell kisses and hurried
away from his peaceful home out to
the world of danger. Six months
later, in a skirmish in Virginia,
Hayne Myron was killed, in close
combat, by federal officer. Only a
few words were sent to the old home
to tell the sad story.
During General Sherman's lnVa'
sion into South Carolina the Myron
homestead was destroyed. The wi.
dow and daughter continued to live
on the plantation in an out-building,
supported by the rents from the lands.
Two years ago Mrs. Myron died, and
through the influence of friends, Miss
Myron obtained a position as gov
erness in the family of Colonel U. R.
Smith, of New York. She stated to
me that her first meeting with Colo
mel Smith was peculiar. That when
his wife introduced her to him saying,
this is our new governess from South
Carolina, Miss Rhett Myron," his
face became deatbly white, and he
gave sudden start. Gle was ab-
sent from home when Mrs smith en-
gagged hcr.)He mechanically shook
hands with her and tried to speak,
but his lips seemed sealed. But
later his manner changed to kindness
and cordiality,. and she was treated
more as an honored guest than a
salaried teacher. He insisted on
paying her fopr times the amount she
charged for her services, and made
her duties light. One evening she
was sitting in the family circle, tell
ing of her past life down in South
Carolina, of the spacious house with
it's twenty columns, of the dusky
slaves, who used to sit her on their
shoulders, calling her their "little
queen" as they carried her through
the cotton fields that looked like seas
of snow foam. For the first time she
spoke of her father, how handsome
and sad he looked as he went away
on that dreadful last day; how he
took her picture with him, and told
all he said. She states that she was
forced to stop in the midst of her
words, for Colonel Smith turned
ghastly pale and left the room. 1t
all seemed strange to me then, She
said, but the meaning is plain now
Miss Myron continued to live with
Colonel Smiths family for two years.
1T was haven and home to me-
she said, Il had so long toiled and
worked on our plantation, isolated
from society and all advantages, it
was like fairy life had opened to
me of ease and luxury. hut my heart
was almost breaking, as I remem'
bered all that had lost in those sad
sweet days.
Six weeks ago Colonel Smith was
taken suddenly i'll, and when he re-
allied that death was inevitable be
expressed desire to see Miss My
ron alone. Sire states that as she
neared the bed of the dying man, she
saw him holding something convul
sively in one hand, as'he extended
the other to her and exclaimed
"Rhett Myron, forgive me before
die, without your pardon I canno'
die, come close and listen to what
have to tell you. 1t was / who made
you an orphan, my hands are rec
with your fathers blood. Take this
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